GDB 20.0: What a difference one win can make

The Oilers stopped the hemorrhaging with a 5-2 victory in Dallas. They received some puck luck, created some chances and didn’t commit the egregious error which has cost them games recently.

Tonight they wrap up their toughest ten-game stretch of the season against the Western Conference-leading Chicago Blackhawks, and a win will make their first quarter a big success.

The Oilers haven’t won eleven of their first 20 games since November of 2006, but a win tonight sure changes the outlook of where they sit at the quarter mark of the season.

Win and they are on pace for 92 points in 80 games.

Lose in regulation and they are on pace for 84 points.

Twenty-three points after 20 games would have to be considered a success, regardless of their slump prior to Saturday’s win. I don’t think anyone expected the Oilers to be a dominant team this season, but an 11-8-1 record after 20 games gives us a better illustration of what to expect over the final 62 games. A loss won’t derail their season, but it illustrates how much of a difference one more win can make over a 20-game period.

A win over Chicago would also help their average home record. The biggest improvement for the Oilers has been their ability to compete on the road. The Oilers are 6-4-1 on the road. Only Tampa Bay and Boston have more road wins and points. Meanwhile, only the Flames (3-7) and Buffalo (2-4-2) have fewer home wins than the Oilers’ four.

The Oilers started the season 4-1 at home, but they’ve lost three straight, scoring a total of three goals. They’ve shown considerable improvement on the road it is time they start making their new arena a difficult place to play for opposing teams.

LINEUP

Oilers

Rarely do you change a winning lineup. No one played poorly. Zack Kassian was playing well before he took a four-minute minor, the second one for chirping the referee. He didn’t see the ice afterwards, but similar to when Jordan Eberle and Benoit Pouliot missed icetime due to a bad performance or selfish decision earlier this season, they were in the lineup the next game. Todd McLellan hasn’t been afraid to send a message to players when they make a dumb play, but he also doesn’t carry the punishment over to the next game.

Players respect it when a coach doesn’t hold a grudge.

Hawks

Corey Crawford gets the start after a night off in Vancouver on Saturday.

QUICK HITS

Through 64 games Connor McDavid has 70 points. He has seven three-point games and one five-point night. In his first 64 games Sidney Crosby had 74 points and six three-point games and one four-point night. There were more goals scored league-wide in Crosby’s rookie season, and McDavid is playing his second year, so there are some differences, but there is no denying McDavid looks to be the next dominant player in the NHL.

Crosby had 28 points in his final 17 games to finish the season, and if McDavid can come close to that over the next 17 games the Oilers should be in the playoff mix when 2017 begins.

The Hawks have allowed a league-high 18 PP goals (tied with CGY) and they have the worst PK in the NHL, an ugly 69.5%. However, those numbers are not reflective of their PK lately. They allowed 15 PP goals in their first eight games, but they’ve allowed only three goals in their last eleven games, killing off 36 of 39 power plays.

How about the Columbus Blue Jackets? They are 10-4-2 and only have two regulation losses in their last 14 games. They have defeated Dallas, Washington and Anaheim twice, and Chicago, Montreal St.Louis and the New York Rangers once. They are beating the top teams. They are the biggest surprise early this season.

With veterans Mark Letestu, Eric Gryba and Benoit Pouliot in the pressbox it doesn’t look like Edmonton will be in need to make a call to the AHL anytime soon. Taylor Beck leads the Condors in scoring with 5-11-16 in 11 games. Jujhar Khaira was off to a great start, seven points in six games, but an injury has kept him out of five games.

The most interesting battle has been in goal. Laurent Brossoit has started seven games and has a .915sv% and 2.77 GAA. Nick Ellis has started six games and has a .931sv% and 2.38 GAA. Ellis is really pushing Brossoit for icetime.

We’ll be having another NationGear pop-up shop at Vacancy Hall (Downstairs at the Mercer building – 10359 104th Street) from 4-6pm. Swing by and upgrade your wardrobe accordingly.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING…

The Oilers (10-8-1) came out flying this season going 7-1 in their first eight games, but have been struggling lately, losing five of their last six. Edmonton now sits in second in the Pacific Division, tied in points at 21 with the Ducks and Kings.

Oilers captain Connor McDavid has had an exceptional second season so far, sitting tied atop the leader board in points with 22 (eight goals and 14 assists). The Hawks missed out on facing McDavid last season because all three meetings happened when he was recovering from a broken clavicle. Chicago capitalized with McDavid out and swept the season series, scoring four goals in each contest behind Corey Crawford in net. Patrick Kane tallied two goals and five assists in the series while Artemi Panarin had four goals and four assists against the Oilers last season.

TONIGHT…

GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers had played well and lost near the end of their losing streak before getting some bounces in Dallas. The Hawks have needed third period comebacks over Calgary and Vancouver in their previous two games. Instead of wasting a good opportunity, the Oilers finally defeat a team playing their third game in four nights. Oilers win 4-2.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: On at least two occasions, Patrick Kane puts on a ridiculous display of stickhanding and controlling the puck in offensive zone. He’ll have the Oilers on their heels hoping not to get embarrassed. His puckhandling skills are top-shelf.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Puljujarvi scores his first goal since opening night.

I never got of the wagon. Hence the name.
I just said I was disappointed that McDavid hadn’t scored in 10 games.
Maybe he read it and thought, umm, i’ll show you. I hope so. I also hope he keeps showing me.

Hawks are still a quality team. Will be a tough one tonight. I think your prediction of Kane making the D look bad at least once is an easy one to see. It’ll happen more than once. Larsson has trouble with fast shifty players.

We got my grandpa tickets to tonight’s game for his 80th birthday. I questioned getting tickets against such a good team but the Hawks were his favourite team before the Oilers entered the league. Here is hoping the Oilers don’t lay an egg for his first game at the new barn…!

No one will argue that Eberle isnt skilled. He is, just he is unmotivated, and when he yawns coming off the ice for a change, when he looks like a space cadet when the game is playing. That is where I have a problem with Eberle. That is what I wouldnt want in the locker room. Someone isnt interested in the game, someone who seems not willing to learn or talk to his teammates. At lease Kessel has a cup ring, so does Kane. Kessel was overpaid by Toronto because they are Toronto. No sense putting Kane and Eberle in the same sentence. Not many players show as much disinterest in hockey as Eberle lately.

He is playing with Hopkins and Maroon who are two players that can play at the speed of Eberle, you can switch maroon and Lucic and it will work either way. Eberle never proved to me he was a 1RW except his contract year. He isnt big enough to be a 1RW playing with McDavid, He has the hands, but lately they been cold.

I am not sure if Eberle became a predicatable player (off wall, near the slot, glide into position, glide to the bench) but he has to move his feet.

Pulijarvi unlike Eberle, can find open ice. he needs to shoot more, he needs to able to use that one timer to maintain on that spot. If he can cause eberle to compete then I do hope this works out.

Have you ever actually looked at the list of players who make 6+ million? There is a few on that list far worse than eberle. Heck for fun check the list starting at 5 mil + and see what you come up with. Lot of bad contracts with NMCs

You hate him because he isnt a big sexy stud forward that crashes and bangs all night long which makes no sense given his size and style of play.

Every team hands out poor contracts or at times over pays players. Maybe he should be making 4.5 million.

Since you are such a sarcastic hockey genius why arent you suggesting who the oilers should trade him for or a player who would have been a better draft pick? I argued they should have traded him after his second season. Where were you then? Probably drooling over his stats.

I think Griff, Ebs, and Pouliot will be traded before this team is a serious contender. But as for this year I think Ebs, Pou and Nuge will get going and provide secondary scoring. Ebs is an interesting player…. He is often very frustrating, but the skill is obviously there. I just don’t understand, being average defensively as a winger should be easy…. I don’t get it, all he’d have to do is usually (haha) try to be ok defensively and everyone would get off his case. Lack of effort.

For skill, yes, half the NHL is below average. Ebs is above average. To be average defensively as a winger, however, he just needs to put in more effort. He has the skill. He’s fast enough to back check, he often just chooses not to. To use your med school analogy, he’s like the student who has the brains and ability to excel. However, he doesn’t show up to class on time. It drives everyone crazy. He knows he’s supposed to be in class on time, he has the ability to get to school on time, but he chooses not to, because he’s gifted enough to get by on his own schedule. He’s also a poor influence to the other students (team mates), as they see an experienced student not put in the effort, and follow suit. Because of this, the class doesn’t perform as well as they could/should. He would have the top marks in class, but Pitlick shows up early, and puts in the extra effort to get top marks, even though hypothetical EBS is a more gifted Doctor than Hypothetical Pitlick. Also, I do believe there are some serious issues with our Medical Care, and I believe they should be addressed forthwith. Lol. Anyways, TRADE THE MALL.

To change the minds of people one must be perseverate. If you look back at when I started my Eberle is the weak link narrative a few years back to now you will see many more people now agree with that sentiment.

1. The Hawks can be beaten, but the Oilers need to limit their momentum, once things start working for them they get in an unbelievable pace and positive groove. Both Vancouver and Calgary had them against the ropes but they managed to string together a few minutes of good hockey and that is all it took.

2. Besides the usual weapons, they have quite a few youngsters coming up in their pipeline (sigh). This needs to be an all team effort or we are going to get 8 behind our net.

3. A bit harsh on Poo to sit him again, he has been playing in the Nuge line, which, as a poster pointed out (correctly) has been a “shut down” line, I am not saying he has been awesome, but this line up could use some experience. Slepyshev, is not experienced.

Am I the only one who thinks that Brenden Ullrich is absolutely terrible and has no business being on the radio in a major market like Edmonton?

I think his knowledge is OK, but he has difficulty stringing two coherent sentences together and sounds like someone doing the weather report from Estevan or Drumheller.

I know that he’s still young, but he really hasn’t made much progress since he started. I’m not a big Dan Tencer fan, but he was ten times the broadcaster at the same age. Why do they keep this guy around? Is Corus really that cheap that they can’t pay a bit more and find somebody that has some actual talent?

I agree he is not as polished as some in broadcasting. But he is doing his best.

At least he does not invite a guest on his show to share hockey knowledge and / or opinion, then constantly interrupt the guest to show what great hockey knowledge he, himself, has. (Stauffer) That is way more frustrating to me.

Keep in mind, he is actually a producer and just filling in for the most homer radio personality on the planet, what I wonder about CHED is why they still find a reason to keep Bryan Hall on the air for 12 hours a day.

He is the producer in much the same way that Reid Wilkins used to be the producer. It’s usually a stepping stone to more on air work or getting your own show.

The difference is that Wilkins is actually good on the air, while Ullrich is laughably terrible. And I haven’t even mentioned the grammar mistakes that he constantly makes.

While I’m venting….

Why can’t Stauffer pronounce Spezza the way the rest of the league does?
Why can’t Rob Brown pronounce the word “especially” correctly?
Why do people never using adverbs correctly? Like saying “drive safe” instead of “drive safely”

I think this game will come down to how the Oilers match up with the Hossa/Pani/Anisimov line. Hossa plays a heavy game and we will need to see how Nuge/Drai stack up against those 3. Last year they had their way with the Oilers and the result was not one win against Chicago.
If we can neutralize that then I think we got a chance. McDavid will be fired up to play against Toews and got that monkey off his back last game.

Listening to Oilers now and they are talking about McDavid and stars getting cheap shots. What would you rather have a guy like Kassian take a game or two suspension or McDavid out for 2 months with a slash like Gaudreau took.

Sure like the look of our lines if JP can play his best with CMD and Looch. Eberle and Nuge with Maroon iis a nice mix of talent and size. That 3rd line is a crazy mix of size speed and talent. Slep Drai Kass should be a cycling machine. Our 4th line is damn fine too! Drake Hendo and Pit should be able to feast on the 3rd pairing D of Chicago. Get them 10 minutes of ice!

Forget about a 3 headed monster, this is a 4 headed Hyrdra if they can gel!

That list has 120 right wingers in the league, 139 left wingers in the NHL and 205 players registered as centres. Which means there are 35 players listed as playing centre in the NHL that are playing RW. Ebs still might still be in the top 30 in points though…

WOOW , don’t get me wrong… that post was not me supporting how Ebs is playing. I was just posting some stats I found.

I am on the side that Ebs was not preforming well enough for Connor, and I’m right now actually very happy with JP getting a chance with Connor as I think his playing style will better match Connors game. If Ebs was firing on all cylinders it would be a different story, but he looked to be riding Connors coat tails… so to say.

The difference between an Eberle or Lucic playing with Connor and a Puljujarvi or Pitlick or Slepyshev playing with Connor is that the veterans want to show Connor that they can keep up with him and get dragged out of playing their own games where the kids know their job is simply to get the puck to Connor and that is what leads to success.

EBS and Nugey boy need to get going. Need to. The 2nd line needs to provide secondary scoring, it’s almost rediculous how much the team relies on McD to score. A scoring second line and the Oil would probably have 2 more wins already, at least. I think Nuge, Ebs, and Maroon/Pouliot are good enough to be a contributing 2nd line. Drai needs to get going as well. I’d trade any of them in a heartbeat, minus Drai, but even as is they should be an above average 2nd line. Like others predicted, I could see Ebs and Nugey boy get a couple points tonight. Ebs, Need ya putting up those pts Brother!

If two or more clubs are tied in points during the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order: The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage).The greater number of games won, excluding games won in the Shootout. This figure is reflected in the ROW column. The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs.